Power-operated material loading, conveying, and discharging machine



May 11 1926. v 1,584,042

R. SH EDENHELM POWER OPERATED MATERIAL LOADING, CONVEYING, AND DISCHARGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 11- 1926. v R. SHEDENHELM rowan OPERATED MATERIAL LOADING, CONVEYING, AND DISCHARGING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2'7. 1921 NW C um i n1 1 I 11/ p 4 I I u- I! G u Z w .i Mm hm. i 1 v hm l/ ,4 V .l\ I! 3 1 m \W I l I O O B aw MW um Q v In N M BW May 11 1926.

' R. SHEDENHELM yowna OPERATED MATERIAL LOADING, CONVEYING, ANDDISOHARGING. MACHINE Filed Sept 2'7, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented M81 1,

UNITED ST-AT ROBERT SHEDENHELM, 0F GRINNELL, IOWA.

TOWER-OPERATED MATERIAL LOAD ING, CONVEYING, AND DISCHABGING MACHINE.

Application filed September 27, 1921; Serial No. 503,643.

My invention relates to that class of material loading, conveying and dischar ing mechanism as illustrated in my Patent umber 1,226,125, issued May 15, 1917, on a manure loader.

The object of my present invention is to provide for operating a machine of this kind y power froman engine; and more specifically it is my object to so arrange and combine the engine supporting frame with the machine for loading, conveying and discharging material that it will permit the loading, conveying and discharging machine to be operated in certain positions and under certain conditions in which it could not successfully operate when being-advanced by draft animals or by an independent tractor.

Another object is to provide simple, durable and inexpensive driving and controlling connections between the engine and the several parts of the material loading, conveying and discharging machine whereby the ma-' chine may be advanced and the various operative parts of it driven either independently or in unison, or whereby said parts may be driven independently or collectively while the machine is standing still, or whereby, whenthe machine is being advanced the loading conveyor may be operated at different speeds relative to the speed of advance of the machine, and whereby all of the ordinary functions of said loading, conveying and discharging mechanism may be performed in a convenient, facile and economical manner.

My invention consists in the combination of a material loading, conveying and discharging mechanism of the class described of an engine supporting frame arranged at the side thereof and capable of independent rocking movement centered on the main axle, and in the construction, arrangement and combination of the gearing andcontrolling devices from the engine to the machine advancing mechanism, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as after more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a deherein vice embodying my invention with parts brgken away showing certain structural detai s.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged, detail sec-. tional view illustrating the driving connections between the engine. shaft and the main axle, and also between the engine shaft and the driving mechanism of the material loading, conveying and discharging machine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I shall first describe the material loading, conveying and discharging machine.

In this connection, however, it should be understood that I have not in the ap lication attempted to fully illustrate an describe the details of this machine, for the reason that it of itself forms no part of my present invention, and I- have only herein illustrated and shall describe the essential parts thereof, and I hereby refer to the aforesaid Patent No. 1,226,125, issued May 15, 1217, for the detail drawings and descri tion of said machine.

T e machine comprises a main frame indicated generally by the numeral 10. At its forward end are the steering wheels 11 mounted on stub axles and controlled by the crank wheels 12 connected by a sprocket chain 12 through a steering mechanism hereinafter described.

Within the frame there is a wagon bed indicated generally by the numeral 13. This wagon bed is capable of up and down tilting movement centered on thermain. axle. At the forward end of the wagon bed is a loading conveyor indicated generally by the numeral 14, and provided with an earth cutting blade 15 at its front end. In the bottom of the wagon bed is a slatted apron 16, and independent means are provided for driving the elevating conveyor at the front and the slatted apron in the wagon bed, as will be hereinaftermore fully disclosed in connection with the description of the gearing mechanism.

The means for raising and lowering the front end of the wagon bed relative to the frame 10 comprises a hand wheel 17 located conveniently accessible to the drivers seat, and o eratively connected to a shaft 18 throng the beveled gears 19 and20. A worm gear 21 is mounted on the front of the shaft 18 and is in meshwith a worm gear 22 on a cross shaft 23, which has its .bearn gs in the frame 10. This cross shaft 23 has pinions 24 fixed to it, which in turn are 1n mesh with the vertical racks 25, the lower ends of which are attached to the frame at the forward end of the elevating conveyor.

In practical use with this material loading, conveying and -d1scharg1ng machine, the earth cutting blade at the front 1s moved downwardly by manipulation of the hand wheel 17 until it can cut to the desired depth into the earths surface, over which it 1s being advanced. Then as the mach1ne 1s advanced, the material iscarried up and deposited in the front'of the slatted apron 1n the wagon bed, and when it 1s piled up high enough within the front end of the wagon box, the slatted apron is advanced a slight distance toward the rear, thus g1v1ng room for more material to be piled 111 the front of the wagon box. This operation contlnues until the wagon box is filled, then the machine is transported to the point of discharge after elevating the front end of the wagon box, and when at the point of d scharge, the slatted apron 1s moved to discharge the material from the rear end of the wagon box.

To provide for causing the said material loading, conveying and dischargmg machine to perform all of 1ts important functions by power from an engine associated with the" machine, I have provided a device in the nature of an attachment to support the engine, and to operatively connect it with the various parts of the material loadlng, conveying and discharging machine.

This attachment comprises a main axle 26 rot atably mounted in suitable bearings on the frame 10 and extended beyond both sides of it. Fixed to one end of the axle'26 is a drive wheel 27, and rotatably mounted on the other end of it is a sleeve 28, and a traction wheel 29 is fixed to this sleeve 28. R0- tatably mounted upon the axle 26 is a beveled gear 29 which is driven from the engine in the manner hereinafter described, and which may be connected by a clutch 30 with the said axle 26. i

A differential gear of the ordinary construction is provided and indicated generally by the reference numeral 31, its large pinion on one side being fixed to the main axle 26, and its large pinion on the other side being fixed to the sleeve 28, and when thus arranged it performs the ordinary function of a differential gear in applying driving power to both of the traction wheels at the same time, and yet permits one of them to move independently of the other.

generally by the reference numeral 32. At

its rear end are the bearings 33, by which it is pivotally supported 'on the main axle on the opposite side of the traction wheel 29. At the front of the frame 32 is a supporting castor wheel 34.

The engine is indicated generally by the reference numeral 35, and is preferably mounted at the forward end of the engine frame 32. Extending rearwardly from it is the engine shaft 36, on which there is a drivingpinion 37. i

For transmitting power from the engine to the beveled pinion 29, I have provided a shaft 38 mounted in suitablebearings in the engine frame 32, and provided at its forward end with a pinion 39 loosely mounted and in mesh with the pinion 37, and on its rear end with a beveled pinion 40 fixed to the shaft 38 and in mesh with the pinion 29. A clutch 41 is provided for operatively connecting the pinion 39 with the shaft 38. I

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 38 is a sleeve 42 having at its forward end a clutch 43 by which it may be operatively connected with the pinion 39 for driving the sleeve, and on the rear end of the sleeve 42 is a beveled pinion 44. This latter pinion is in mesh with a large beveled gear wheel 45 connected with a hub portion 45? rotatably mounted on the axle 26. The small pinions 45 of the differential gear are carriedby this gear wheel 45. On the other side of the drive wheel 29 is a corresponding large beveled gear wheel 46,- and this wheel 46 is arranged to be driven from the engine at times, as follows:

The numeral 49'indicates a driving shaft having loosely mounted at its forward end a gear wheel 50 in mesh with the engine shaft gear 37 and at its rear end is a beveled pinion 51 fixed to the shaft 49 and in mesh with the large beveled gear wheel 46 on the main drive wheel 29. A clutch 52 is provided for operatively connecting the pinion 50 with the shaft 49.

In this connection, I have provided. means whereby when one of the pinions 44 and 51 is in operative connection with its corre-- sponding large beveled wheel on the main drive wheel, the other will be operatively disconnected therefrom as follows:

The numeral 53 indicates a lever fastened to the frame 32 and having at each end a link 54. These links are in turn pivoted to the central portion of one of two levers 55. The outer ends of said levers being connected respectively to the clutches'43 and 52,

and their inner ends being pivoted to the frame 32. As shown in Figure 1, both of the clutches 43 and 52 are disengaged. From this position and when the lever 53 is moved in one direction, the clutch 52 will be thrown into engagement, and when the lever 53 is moved in the opposite direction the clutch 43 will be thrown into engagement.

I have provided for. driving the slatted apron in the wagon box and the elevating conveyor in the front of the wagon. box, either separately or jointly as desired, by power from the engine, and when the wagon box is in any position of its adjustment as follows:

Extended rearwardly from the main axle is a shaft 56 having a sliding non-rotatable sleeve 56 on which there'are two beveled pinions 57 and 58 designed to coact with the pinion 59on the shaft 60 which operates the slatted apron 16. A sleeve shifting device 61 is provided for operatively connecting either one of the beveled gear wheels 57 and 58 with the pinion 59, or. to. disconnect both pinions 57 and 58, and this device 61 is controlled by a lever 62 located in position where it is convenient to the operator. A beveled pinion 57 is .fixed to the front end of the shaft 56 in mesh with the pinion 29*.

As before explained, the beveled gear wheel .29 may be operated by the engine either when the machine is stationary or when moving, and hence the slatted apron may be operated in either direction any time when the engine is running, regardless of the movement of the machine.

For operating the elevating conveyor, I have provided a shaft 63 having a pinion 64 at its rear in mesh with the pinion 65 loose on the shaft 56. -A clutch 66 is provided by which the pinion 65 may be operatively connected with the shaft 56, and this clutch is controlled b a lever 67 arranged conveniently accessib e to the operator.- At the forward end of the shaft 63 is a small beveled pinion 68 in mesh with the pinion 69 on a shaft 70 of the elevating conveyor.

By this arrangement, the elevating conveyor may be operated any time regardless of the operation of the slatted apron or of the advance of the machine.

rotate the main axle 26 either through the gears 44 and 45 or through the gears 40 and 29; and thereby either advance or back the machine.

Further in this connection, attention is called to the fact, that assuming the motor is runnin at uniform speed, it is possible with my improvement to vary the speed at veyor be substantially the same as the speed of the advance of the machine. I accomplish this desirable result as follows:

It will be noted that the gear wheel 29, through which the elevating conveyor is operated, is loose on the main axle, but may be clutched to the main drive axle.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the beveled pinion 44 is rotatable on the drive shaft 38, and that it may be driven when the drive shaft 38 is idle.

The pinion 39, as before explained, is geared to the engine and runs at all times when the pinion 37 is running, and that this pinion 39 may operate to advance the machine through the sleeve 42 and the gears 44 and 45.

I have provided means whereby the oporator may cause the clutch 41 to be thrown into engagement, and the clutch 30 will be thrown out of engagement at the same time, or upon an opposite movement, the clutch 41 to be thrown out of engagement and the clutch 30 to be thrown into engagement. This means comprises a connecting rod 41 attached to the lever 41 that is connected to the clutch 41, and also this rod 41 is extended rearwardly to where. it is connected to a bell crank lever 41", which in turn is connected to the clutch 30.

By this arrangement, it will. be seen that when the clutch 30 is out and the clutch 41 is in, then power is transmitted from the engine to the bevel pinion 29 through the shaft 38, and by reason of the relative sizes of the gears, the pinion 29 will be driven relatively slow, hence the elevating apron will run comparatively slow, at the same time the machine is advanced through the sleeve 42 and the pinions 44 and 45, assuming, of course, that the sleeve 42 is clutched to the pinion 39. Then if it should be desired to run the elevating conveyor relatively fast, From the construction heretofore described. it is obvious that it is possible tothe clutch 41 is moved away from the pinion 39, and the clutch 30 is thrown into engagement with the pinion 29 'l-Vhen this is done, the shaft 38 is idle, but the sleeve 42 drives the gear wheels 44 and 45 and the large beveled pinion 29" is driven from the large beveled pinion 45 through the differential and the axle 26, so that it goes at a higher rate of speed relative to the advance of the machine, than when driven through the shaft 38.

For operating the steering wheels 11, I preferably provide a steering wheel 71 and two cables 72 connected with the steering wheel and passed around a suitable guide pulley 73 and connected with the crank wheels 12, the operation of these parts being Well known, no further detailed description is necessary.

In practical use my improved machine is intended principally for such work as road grading, cellar excavating, manure handling and so forth.

For instance, in cellar excavating, the elevating conveyor and the cutter atthe front thereof are lowered to operative position, and then the machine is advanced to a point in line with one edge of the cellar to be excavated. Then the machine can be turned around in a small space and its load of earth may be carried to a point of discharge.

In work of this kind my machine has an advantage in that the cutting blade and the elevating conveyor may be moved to position against a vertical wall of earth, and the elevation conveyor 'can be operated after the machine has stopped its advance.

Machines of this kind are very frequently required to advance over very rough and uneven surfaces, and my arrangement of having the main frame, the engine frame and the wagon box all capable of independent -up and down movement centered at the main axle, provides a machine that can be very easily adapted to uneven road surfaces without strain or injury to the machine.

By locating the engine in front of and in line with the main drive wheel, I am able to employ a very simple and inex ensive gearing mechanism, and one that Wlll drive both drive 'wheels in the ordinary manner through a differential gear.

In addition to this, the main drive wheel may be directly driven either forwardly or rearwardly, while the other drive wheel is held stationary so that the machine may be turned around in a very small space centered upon the stationary drive wheel.

Considered aside from its function as a material loading, conveyin and discharging machine, my improved device provides a general purpose tractor. With the wagon bed in its normal position, and the elevating and discharging mechanism out of gear, ,the

device may be used for all of the purposes for which an ordinary tractor is now used. Ordinarily when in use for such purposesas plowing and the like, the wagon box is empty and the tractor as a whole weighs substantially the same as other tractors. However. there are some instances when it is desirable to increase the weight of the tractor for the purpose of getting additional traction on the drive wheels for the purpose of pulling a heavier load, and when such condition presents itself, it is a very easy matter with my improved machine to fill up the wagon bed with earth or other material, and thus greatly add to the weight of the tractor, and thereby obtain more tractive power.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device ofthe class described, the combination of a main frame, an engine frame arranged at the side of the main frame, a supporting axle, the rear portion of each frame being pivotally supported on the said axle so that each frame may have independent up and down movement centered at said main axle, steering wheels for the front end of one of said frames, a caster wheel for the front end of the other frame, gearing devices operatively connected with said axle for transmitting power from it to various parts of the main frame, a traction wheel fixed to said axle,

a second traction wheel rotatively mounted on the axle, an engine carried by the engine frame, and means for transmitting power direct from the engine to the rear axle or to the traction wheel rotatively mounted on the rear axle.

2. In a device of the class described, the d combination of a main frame, an engine supporting frame arranged at the side of the main frame, a main axle upon which both frames are mounted, two traction wheels mounted upon said axle, one being fixed thereto and the other being rotatable thereon, an engine mounted on the engine frame, gearing devices between the engine and the traction wheels whereby the latter may be driven by power from the engine, a differential gearing device between the said axle and the traction wheel that is rotatable on the. axle, steering wheels for the front end of the main frame, and a caster wheel for the front end of the engine frame.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main frame, an engine supporting frame arranged at the side of the main frame, a main axle upon which both frames are mounted, two traction wheels mounted upon said -axle, one being fixedthereto and the other being rotatable thereon, an engine mounted on the engine frame, and gearing devices between the engine and the traction wheels whereby the latter may be driven by power from the engine, a differential gearing device between the said axle and the traction wheel that is rotatable 0n the axle, for the purpose as stated.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main frame, an engine supportin frame arranged at the side of the main frame, a main axle upon which both frames are mounted two traction wheels mounted upon said axle, one being fixed thereto and the other being rotatable thereon, an engine mounted on the engine frame,

and gearing devices between the engine and.

the traction wheels whereby the latter may be driven by power from the engine, a differential gearing device between the said axle and the traction wheels that is rotatable on the axle, two large gearing wheels fixed to opposite sides of the traction wheel that is loose on the axle, and means for. operatively connecting one or the other of said gearing wheels with the engine .for moving said traction wheel either forwardly or rearwardly without advancing the other traction wheel, for the purpose as stated,

ROBERT SHEDENHELM. 

